Prime Minister David Cameron has asked Fifa to reconsider its decision to ban England from wearing poppies during Saturday’s friendly against Spain.

On Tuesday, the world governing body rejected a second Football Association (FA) request to overturn the ban.

“It seems outrageous,” said Mr Cameron. “I hope Fifa will reconsider.

“The idea that wearing a poppy to remember those who have given their lives for our freedom is a political act is absurd.”

He added: “Wearing a poppy is an act of huge respect and national pride.”

Fifa decrees that shirts should not carry political, religious or commercial messages.

“Such initiatives would open the door to similar initiatives from all over the world, jeopardising the neutrality of football,” it said.

Fifa has allowed a period of silence to be held prior to the game against Spain, which takes place the day before Remembrance Sunday.

England will also wear poppies on their training kit, and on Friday they will stand for a two-minute silence.

Wales, who play Norway in Cardiff on Saturday, will observe a minute’s silence before kick-off while Scotland, who face Cyprus in a friendly on Friday, will wear poppy-emblazoned training tops.

Former chief executive of the FA David Davies told BBC Radio 5 live that the policy was necessary but needed tweaking.

“Around the world, if you didn’t have this rule, people would use it for political or religious or for personal slogans,” he said.

“One of the first countries screaming out in protest would be our home nations. [But] things have changed. People do respect it [the poppy].

“After the game the FA must campaign, perhaps with the Germans, against this far too draconian and ill-thought-through policy.”

On Tuesday, Sports Minister Hugh Robertson wrote to Fifa seeking permission for the England and Wales teams to wear poppies.

He commented: “Wearing a poppy is a display of national pride, just like wearing your country’s football shirt.

“The British public feel very strongly about this issue – it is not religious or political in any way.”

British Fifa vice-president Jim Boyce added: “I think there has to be a bit of common sense used when requests like this come in.

“Armistice Day is a very important day in the FA calendar, as it is with other associations, and I don’t think it would offend anybody to have a poppy on the shirts.”

Injured England midfielder Jack Wilshere tweeted: “My great-grandad fought for this country in WW2 and I’m sure a lot of people’s grandparents did.

“England team should wear poppies on Saturday. It’s the nation’s tradition and it would be disrespectful not to.”

For the latest updates throughout the day follow Sportsday Live. Get involved on Twitter via the hashtag #bbcsportsday.

(BBC Football )

Pot, kettle? Convicted footballer thug Joey Barton accuses TOWIE cast of being ‘mentally deficient’ in Twitter spat

By Georgina Littlejohn

Last updated at 7:45 PM on 8th November 2011

He stubbed out a cigar into a teammate’s eye and has twice been convicted on violence charges.

But despite his own questionable behaviour, that hasn’t stopped Premiership footballer Joey Barton from airing his opinions about the cast of The Only Way Is Essex.

The QPR midfielder was a guest at the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 launch party last night where he insulted the reality TV stars who were also attending the bash.

 

Uncalled for: QPR footballer Joey Barton attended the launch of Call of Duty: MW3 in London last night and launched a Twitter attack on the TOWIE stars who also attended, including James ‘Arg’ Argent

Rather than keep to himself and enjoy a night off from the day job, Barton, 29, launched a barrage of digs in their direction.

But, rather cowardly, he didn’t actually put them down to their face – but decided to rant about them on his Twitter page instead.

He started by noting that his fellow guests were a bunch of ‘strange z-list celebs’ and added: ‘Just for the record the TOWIE helmets were there, all of them together. FREAKS.’

 

Wading in: Mark Wright and his sister Jessica, seen here at a London club last week, didn’t attend the computer game launch but were still involved into Joey’s Twitter insults

But TOWIE’s James ‘Arg’ Argent was having none of it and responded: ‘Only person there that everyone looked down on is u. Should we beat our TOWIE cast mates up & go down for you to like us!? Mug!’

Barton replied: ‘Leave it u stonehenge teeth. Cheeky man giving it bigguns, leave it large undies.’

Arg’s best friend and fellow TOWIE star Mark Wright wasn’t at the computer game launch as he had dinner plans with his family.

 

In defence: Joey Essex, who wasn’t at the event, also waded into the row after Barton insulted Mark and Jessica’s grandmother Nanny Pat

But that didn’t stop him getting involved as he took to his Twitter page to defend his friend and put Barton in his place.

He wrote: ‘Joey where can I get ur hair cut ? Also u no that arg wants he’s teeth done so thanks 4 watching the show!!’

Barton replied: ‘Same place u get them speedo’s. Ur sister still collecting footballers like panini stickers???’